Beam Work Makes the Dream Work

Connecting the Old and the New

When we built on the mudroom and garage, it was a very exciting day (in August of 2017) to connect the old cellar and new basement. Then, oh just shy of two years later (in June of 2019), we finally got to take out the supporting wall between the old kitchen and new addition. Pretty darn exciting yet pretty darn crazy how time flies.

And because it would be too simple to install a wood header and cover it with drywall, we used old barn beams.

We paid fifty bucks for each of the support, or side, beams. Cooper was home to help get them (thanks Coop!).

Thank God for my fellas who help execute my crazy plans.

Then I started the cleaning, scrubbing, and treating phase.

My go to for cleaning beams:
a Borax and peroxide paste, scrubbed into every nook and cranny.

They were washed and treated for post beetles. And wire brushed and scrubbed…and wire brushed again. And treated again. Being an amateur, I try and err on the side of caution.

The primary, hand-hewn beam to span the length of the old support wall, was love at first sight. We bought it for forty bucks. Total. Major beautiful score. I love this beam.

After the beams dry out, then you get to start the buffing process.

Clean and dry, but dull.
Before the wax on, wax off process began.

Waxing. Aka, elbow grease. Aka, perspiration. Aka, popeye forearms.

Briwax is my go to wax for all old woods. (The top face of the beam is already waxed.)

I like Briwax because it doesn’t change the natural color of the wood — just enhances it and hardens it.

This is after hours of waxing and buffing.
If you can’t tell the different between the before and after shots, don’t tell me. Seriously, please don’t.

My guesstimate of time spent on cleaning and preparing of the beams, not including dry times, was about ten days. On three beams. Clearly, I love these beam. (Which made it a teeny tiny bit painful when the extra length that we didn’t need was cut off. Ouch.)

Clearly, they practiced the “measure twice, cut once” with these. Thank you, Adam.

It would take four guys to get the beam up — and one girl to keep my fingers crossed.

The blue tarp is where the old house and new house connect. On the other side of the tarp is the new-construction mudroom.

The old studs were cut out here, where the support wall had been… and I was holding my breath until the beam got up.

Why the oldest guy was the anchor in the corner, standing on a rickety landing, atop the old opening to the cellar, I do not know.

Then securing the other end.

Then came the propping it up, until the support beam went in.

The lift in action. (Along with a few grunts and groans.)

Then came the support beam.

Getting everything exactly where it belongs.

The next shot is from the “new end” of the kitchen — aka new construction end.

And here they are in all their glory, bearing the weight where the old exterior wall used to be. Love them in their new forever spots.

Beam by beam, board by board, we are making progress.

Our new goal is to be moved out of the garage, so that BJR is able to park his truck in the garage, by his birthday. So that means just over seven months to go. Sounds doable?

We (and in this case, by “we” I mean Brian John) have been working tirelessly on the wiring!

We (and in this case by “we” I mean we!) are so excited to have the wiring done! Our electrical will soon be inspected. Fingers crossed. I am pretty sure that I found the cutest electrician ever.

Thanks for reading and thanks hanging in there with us!

We love our old perfectly-imperfect farmhouse and can’t wait to share it with the people we love.

Love from the garage, PJR & BJR